F-14A/B DEVELOPMENT UPDATE #2

Did they say the 1st of August, or just IN August?

Gotta know when to hype!

Frisco1522

and Cobra, im sure hates the calender

Saw this on Foxtrot Alpha. Good read!

This Topgun Instructor Watched The F-14 Go From Tomcat To 'Bombcat'

From Dave 'Bio' Baranek

F-14 HUD detail:

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-cp-d-pilot-02.htm

Out of curiosity, does the B share the same HUD as the A? And what does it look like? My minor Google search only came up with FSX HUDS.

F-14 HUD detail:

 

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-cp-d-pilot-02.htm

That's definitely not the hud we'll be getting.

Out of curiosity, does the B share the same HUD as the A? And what does it look like? My minor Google search only came up with FSX HUDS.

B's HUD is same as A+, A+ had changed it's HUD, then upgrade to D.

So D's HUD is the same as B.

Got the Aerosoft F14 in FSX to start practicing :)

Super keen to get straight into it when DCS's one releases!

Out of curiosity, does the B share the same HUD as the A? And what does it look like? My minor Google search only came up with FSX HUDS.

The early F-14B(F-14A+) had the same cockpit as the F-14A, in that they both projected their information on the front flat green windscreen of the canopy and had no specific HUD glass. The F-14B upgrade-for the bombing mission brought with it an off the shelf Sparrowhawk HUD glass that used the symbology and power carrot fro the F-14D HUD, although the Sparrowhawk HUD was wider.

The early F-14B(F-14A+) had the same cockpit as the F-14A, in that they both projected their information on the front flat green windscreen of the canopy and had no specific HUD glass. The F-14B upgrade-for the bombing mission brought with it an off the shelf Sparrowhawk HUD glass that used the symbology and power carrot fro the F-14D HUD, although the Sparrowhawk HUD was wider.

I think it needs to be pointed out that this came later on (like, the first one was installed in 1999 and there were some issues with it which took time to be resolved) so I doubt it fits the Leatherneck F-14B timeframe (mid-90's IIRC?).

:/ the last day of august.

:/ the last day of august.

Maybe we took their words too seriously...

But let's hope they pull through. :)

I just joke, don't be serious.

Man it's a pretty bird, My excitement for this monster in DCS grows everyday! :D

That is a very nice picture...

I've bought a Revell Modell of the Baby. Now I actually own a Tomcat :D

I just can't wait to fire the Engines up and take it for a spin :)

You know I'm happy they are doing earlier versions, for one I love the colors and patterns Don't get me wrong the greys and Blacks on the D models are cool but they get old. Early As and Bs are very colorful. Also I used to not like the glove vanes but this picture is bringing me around, I hope they make it a visual option, or someone mods it in.

Man it's a pretty bird, My excitement for this monster in DCS grows everyday! :D

That's a great picture! Classic mid-80s deployment on Ranger.

Doing a Mid-80s F-14A gives them the opportunity to do a lot of different schemes. The Mid-80s was the start of the standard TPS schemes (with great/interesting weathering for a western jet BTW), but lots of squadrons also were still using gloss gull grey with colorful markings - like your picture from VF-2.

This going to be an amazing module if they can pull off all of these big features: Jester AI, new theater, and carrier ops.

I still can't believe that this project is on it's way - its everything I wanted in a flight sim.

-Nick

That's a great picture! Classic mid-80s deployment on Ranger.

 

Doing a Mid-80s F-14A gives them the opportunity to do a lot of different schemes. The Mid-80s was the start of the standard TPS schemes (with great/interesting weathering for a western jet BTW), but lots of squadrons also were still using gloss gull grey with colorful markings - like your picture from VF-2.

 

This going to be an amazing module if they can pull off all of these big features: Jester AI, new theater, and carrier ops.

 

I still can't believe that this project is on it's way - its everything I wanted in a flight sim.

 

-Nick

One thing that always struck me is how early the transition to low-vis markings actually began. The era of highly colorful markings actually ended in the late-'70s. That means that Tomcats were low-vis before I was even born. :(

This looks incredible.

I've bought a Revell Modell of the Baby. Now I actually own a Tomcat :D

I just can't wait to fire the Engines up and take it for a spin :)

I have the old one from Tamiya in 1/32 and the newest Tomcat is the F-14D fom Hobby Boss.:)

hey i have found another one. Its Fleet Defender,:lol: old times

Cant wait for the release of LN Bombcat

One thing that always struck me is how early the transition to low-vis markings actually began. The era of highly colorful markings actually ended in the late-'70s. That means that Tomcats were low-vis before I was even born. :(

Not totally. The "uber-colorful" gull grey with white underbelly and large colorful markings did disappear in the late 70s. Fleet squadrons in the mid-80s were a mix of TPS (3 color tactical grey paint scheme that weathers quickly and is extensively touched up - think the jets seen in Top Gun and later F-14s) and all gloss grey aircraft like the VF-2 Tomcat pictured above. Many different squadrons held onto some color through the 80s. Here are some examples:

Here is VF-31 and VF-11 in 1987:

VF-31 again in 1987 (classic scheme - the "pencil scheme :)):

VF-21 in 1986-88:

VF-154 in 1987:

VF-2 in 1985 (some jets also had this scheme in 1988-89 IIRC):

Also, lots of squadrons had transitioned to low-viz TPS, but Grumman was delivering new Tomcats in gloss gull grey during the 1980s. The USN allowed these gull grey Tomcats to function as colorful CAG and CO birds, even if the rest of the squadron was TPS.

VF-84 in 1988:

And their unique low-viz scheme (2 color IIRC):

Another low-viz in 1986:

Finally, nice example of both CAG and line birds. VF-111 on Carl Vinson in 1986-87 in the Bering Sea, love this picture and the contrast between the 2 schemes:

-Nick

I should've said with the exception of a few squadrons. I generally don't "count" CAG birds, because they've always been high-vis. I was talking about the totality of the squadron.

I can't decide if I should bother getting the Aerosoft F-14. Yeah it would be practice, but I feel I need to stay strong and hold out for Leatherneck's. What do you guys think? To wait, or not to wait?

Frisco1522

Stay strong!! Lol